Good looking, smells fantastic,
and surprisingly gentle towards
nature. No, this isn't a video
about myself.
Today, we're gonna go over
everything you need to know
before you buy a log home.
Homeowners, do your research
before you buy.
This is true for any property,
ut log homes in particular can
be a minefield of nuances.
So let's start with some of the
basics. Log
homes are constructed with
interlocking logs and notching
at the corners.
Once commonplace across North
America, log homes are
typically now reserved for
cabins, second homes and
vacation properties.
However, there's no reason you
couldn't live in a log home
full-time. So what are the
drawbacks and benefits?
The benefits.
First and foremost is their
aesthetic appeal.
Aside from their appealing
exterior, log homes feature
internal load bearing beams, a
very sought after design trait.
Log homes are also very energy
efficient and generally more so
than modern properties.
Log homes are also very strong
and can withstand extreme
events such as hurricanes,
earthquakes and snowstorms.
On the downside, log homes are
expensive and often susceptible
to water damage, and some
construction types can have
issues with settling too.
And in general, log homes
require a little more
maintenance than your
traditional property.
Many owners would like to
design their own log homes, so
if you are one of these type of
owners, it pays to understand
the basics of log home
construction, the type of log
home construction is determined
and how the logs are laid and
how they bear weight.
In North America
there are three common types of
log home construction we're
gonna be reviewing here today.
Stacked construction creates
that iconic image of a log
home. Logs are stacked
horizontally, forming both the
exterior and interior walls,
without the need for drywall.
Grooves are cut on the
underneath of the logs to form
a tight seal with the chinking.
The stacked construction type
is notoriously sturdy.
It can also be built in just
under a day, once the site is
prepared. The
downside, stacked construction
can be expensive and the logs
may crack after the home
settles.
Instead of piling logs on top
of one another, post and beam
construction uses a series of
vertical posts and horizontal
beams to create a structure
that will bear the weight of
the property.
The remaining walls are then
built with cinder blocks,
timber or logs.
This type of construction
generally uses less logs than
the stacked construction, so it
will be less expensive.
The design is also very
flexible, allowing both owners
and architects more opportunity
for creativity.
Think big bay windows and the
steeply peaked roofs.
Post and beam construction also
has fewer issues with settling
compared to stack construction.
However, this type of
construction can take one to
two months to build.
Square
cut homes, otherwise known as
timber-frame or hybrid, are
very similar to the post and
beam construction type with one
major difference.
With post and beam,
the home features a naturally
rounded profile of the logs.
With a square cut home, the
logs are sawn flat or square
to create a more modern
construction type that owners
typically pair with siding.
There is one word that haunts
log home owners - rot.
Preventative
maintenance is the order of the
day, but keeping your log home
moisture free begins with the
design process and ensuring
your roofs overhangs are
sufficient to cover both the
foundation and lower logs.
Typically, this will be about a
two foot overhang, from
there, many maintenance tasks
are similar to conventional
home. Think checking the roof
and clearing debris from your
gutters. However, there are
some maintenance tasks that are
specific to log homes.
For example, you'll want to
check the exterior logs of your
home about twice a year for any
rot, paying specific attention
to the south facing wall as it
receives the most weather
damage. Experts
also recommend re-staining your
log home about every three
years to avoid further sun
damage. So there you have it.
We went over some of the
benefits and drawbacks of log
homes. The three major
construction types and some of
the maintenance tasks you
should consider.
So thank you for watching
today's video and I hope you
learned a lot about log homes.
If you're looking for a home
insurance quote, you can visit
squareoneinsurance.com